Paul Martin, the front-runner in the race to replace Jean Chrétien, has spent part of the summer campaigning to empower back-bench MPs. This is the so-called "democratic deficit" and it is aimed at addressing the discontent among many Liberal MPs who have felt that the Chrétien PMO is too strong, and that MPs are cut out of the policy process or punished for speaking their minds.
So what to do, then, when some of your MPs speak out in ways that could damage your campaign? Can you control those MPs and still wear the banner of parliamentary reform?
Well, Mr. Martin was tested this week after Joe Volpe, one of his most loyal caucus supporters, engaged in a discussion with a reporter over what could happen if Liberal MPs did not accept the Chrétien agenda. Mr. Martin publicly distanced himself from Mr. Volpe's remarks. But it didn't end there: Tim Murphy, Mr. Martin's executive assistant, then spoke with Mr. Volpe.
This wasn't the first time. Last July, Tony Valeri, an Ontario Liberal MP and another staunch Martin loyalist, was featured in a newspaper report discussing Mr. Martin's plans to make MPs more powerful. After that story appeared, Mr. Murphy had a conversation with Mr. Valeri, much as he had had with Mr. Volpe. Mr. Murphy has said that the conversations were not out of the ordinary, as he speaks regularly to these MPs. However, there are some MPs -- Martin loyalists -- who say that Mr. Martin's handlers are "overreacting" to these types of public statements, and that it's "overkill." No free lunch Tom Flanagan won't eat lunch with parliamentary reporters. Indeed, the Alberta university professor, author, sometime media analyst and now chief of staff to Alliance leader Stephen Harper is staying well away from the press -- as his protégé did for most of the summer. Since he arrived recently in Ottawa, several reporters have made entreaties to Mr. Flanagan, asking him out. He has refused. He explained that Mr. Harper wanted all of the messaging and spinning to go through the formal communication channels. In his previous life, Mr. Flanagan rarely shied away from the media, and was very helpful in explaining policy, and the thinking behind that policy. In his new role, however, Mr. Harper wants him to be felt but not seen or heard. Woman of mystery Many were the raised eyebrows at a recent high-profile arts event in Ottawa about the absence of Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps. A group of 20 prominent Canadian arts philanthropists participated in the Roundtable on Philanthropy in the Performing Arts at the National Arts Centre earlier this week. Finance Minister John Manley was there, as was Aline Chrétien, the Prime Minister's wife, who has a great interest in the arts, and was the honorary chair of the arts gala fundraising event that followed the roundtable. Ms. Copps, however, was nowhere to be found, something that was not lost on Jim Pitblado, a Toronto arts philanthropist. Indeed, Mr. Pitblado noted in his remarks how pleased he was that the Finance Minister was there, and pointedly expressed his "surprise" that Ms. Copps was not. Her office said she was in Toronto that day, and had other engagements. For Ms. Copps, whose job it is to represent culture in Canada and who is planning to run for the leadership, this event should have been a no-brainer. Who's hot, who's not Hot rumour: There is growing speculation that the Prime Minister is poised to shuffle his cabinet in the period between a Throne Speech this month and the budget, which is expected in February. Expect some senior ministers -- Transport Minister David Collenette? Solicitor-General Lawrence MacAulay? House Leader Don Boudria? -- to decide not to run again for office, and be shuffled out, and then right into patronage jobs. A senior Liberal said it makes sense "in terms of partisan politics" to leave when the levers of power are still in the hands of your friend. Hot: Tory leader Joe Clark sends thank-you letters to reporters who covered the Edmonton policy convention. The reporters are intrigued by this warm and fuzzy approach by a political leader. Not: Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper, for being politically tone-deaf when, on an Ottawa radio talk show, he tells a critical caller that his comments are "a load of crap." Not a great way to influence voters in Ontario.